Adjustable mail chute



' Aug. 30, 1927.

N. coHAN ADJUSTABLE MAIL CHUTE Filed June 14. 1926' Hmmm/Ef Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

NEWTON COHAN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ADJUSTABLE MAIL CHUTE.

Application filed June 14,

This invention relates generally to the delivery ot mail, and particularly to a special form oi' adjustable chute in which mail may be deposited and in which the chute is placed in the air space of a wall.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and efficient iorm of mail chute which can be easily placed in a new or old wall Without forming any larger openings in the wall than are actually required for the inlet and outlet doors of the chute.

The second object is to so construct the chute that it can be readily adapted to the varying thicknesses of wall.

The third object is to so form the chute itself that it will be flexible enough to allow same to be bent into a shape which will easily pass through the outlet door opening.

The fourth object is to so construct the chute that it can be easily installed by an ordinary mechanic with the aid ot ordinary tools.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specilication following` as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevationot the device troni its outlet side with the outlet door and its casing removed. Figure 2 is a transverse section through the device taken along` the line 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a. horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure t is a horizontal section of one side of the inlet door showing the manner in which it is attached to the chute itself.

Similar numbers of reference re'ter to the` same parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in order to illustrate the invention there are shown the usual studdings and wall sur laces 11 and 12, which may be either plasd ter, composition board or any other material.

The device itself is, for convenience, divided into three parts, namely the outlet box, the connecting chute and the inlet box.

Inlet om.

The inlet box is oi somewhat rectangular cross section and is provided with two ends 13, bottom 14 and top members 15 and 16. An inlet door 17 is hinged to the frame 18 by means ot the pin 19 and the door itseltl 1926. Serial No. 116,058.

is urged to a closed position by means of the spring 20. The frame 18 is held against the. inlet box by means of the screws 21 which pass through the nuts 22 which, in turn, are secured to the inner sides of the members 13 by means of the sheet metal clips 00am-acting chute.

16. On the lower end of the baclr 25 is formed a hinge 32 to which is attached the back 33 of the lower portion of the connecting chute, whose sides 34 are on the outside ot the sides 24, and whose front 35 is on the outside of theA front 27. Theupper edge 36 ot the 'front 35 overlaps the lower edge 37 otl the member 27.

Outlet boa'.

The outlet box is joined to the member 35 by means of the hinge 38 and consists ot the two side members 39, the back v40 and top 41 as well as a bottom a2. An angular lip 43 which is hinged between the members 39 by means of the rivets let which pass through the lugs 45, forms a close fit with the member 33 regardless ot the angular relation between the connecting chute and the outlet box. An outlet door 46 is attached to the Jrame 47 by means of the hinges e8, and the door itself may be held in a closed position by means of a latch 49 which can be operated by the knob 50. Nails 51 are en'iployed to secure the chute to the studding 10 when in its correct position.

Installation of the device is as follows: An opening is cut through the inner wall 11 just large enough to receive the outlet box, which has the largest cross section of any ot the members in the device. A second opening is cut through the outer wall 12 just large enough to receive the inlet box,

and of course, sutliciently above the first mentioned hole to receive both ends ot the device at the same time.

In finished walls the device is bent into The bottom 14 isv the form indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, which permits it to slip into place without increasing the wall openings greater than the amount required for the introduction of the members. The chute is straightened out when in position within the wall, as shown in full lines in Figure 2. llails 5l are now driven through the side members 39 into the studding 10, which is sufficient to hold the device in position. he frames 1'8 and 47 are now fastened in position over their respective openings and the device is ready for use.

For new work where the device is installed before the house is plastered, or the inner side of the studdings Covered with any other material, it is not necessary to curve the chute as suggested. In fact, the hinge 32 can be eliminated entirely, and the entire connecting chute may be made one solid piece.

It will be observed that, regardless of the thickness of the studdings l0 which affects tlie depth of the air space, this mail chute can be adapted to suit the particular condi* tions present without in any way altering the construction of the device or performing` any operation other than moving the inlet and the outlet boxes into the proper lateral position.

It will also be understood that the particular type of hinges employed and their exact location is immaterial. For instance, the hinge 38 could also be placed on the opposite side of the chute and the lip 43 incorporated in the member 33, and similar other variations in details could be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I am aware that mail chut-es have long been constructed in the past; I have therefore directed my claims to a special form of mail chute adapted to be adjusted between its foremost and rearniost faces for the purpose of accommodating itself to various thicknesses of walls especially adapted forinstallation in existing walls without marring the walls or the formation of greater openings therein than are actually occupied by the inlet and outlet boxes. It is therefore not my intention to limit myself to the precise form illustrated in the drawing, but I do intend to cover all such forms and modiiications of the device as fall fairly within the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An adjustable mail chute having an inlet d uct; an outlet duet below said inlet duct; and a connecting chute flexibly joining said inlet and outlet ducts adapted to permit changes in distance between the foremost edge of the inlet duct and the rearmest edge of the outlet duct, said flexible chute being bendable to permit same to pass upwardly through the lower wall openingvand then to project through an upper opening of the completed wall.

2. An adjustable mail chute for hollow walls having an inlet bor: providedV with a closure at one end; a bendable chute connected to the opposite end of said inlet box and adapted to extend downwardly in a wall space; an outlet box hinged to the lower end of said chute; and closure means for the rearward end of said outlet box. j

3. An adjustable mail chute adapted to be placed in the air space of a wall, having an upper inlet duct; a closure for saidinlet duct on the outer' side of the wall; an outlet duct adapted to pass through the inner side of the wall below said inlet duct; a closure for said outlet duct; a connecting duet hinged at its mid portion to permit the bending of said chute and hinged at its upper end to said inlet duct and at its lower end to said outlet duct.

NEWTON ooHAN. 

